Midrash su Esodo 18:1
וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע יִתְר֨וֹ כֹהֵ֤ן מִדְיָן֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְמֹשֶׁ֔ה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־הוֹצִ֧יא יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃
Ithrò, sacerdote di Midjàn, suocero di Mosè, udì tutto ciò che Iddio aveva fatto a Mosè, e ad Israel suo popolo; che (cioè) il Signore aveva tratto Israel dall’Egitto.
Midrash Tanchuma
Now Jethro heard (Exod. 18:1). Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: And so I saw the wicked buried, and they came into their rest; but they that had done right went away from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city; this also is vanity (Eccles. 8:10). Is it really so that wicked buried come and go at will? R. Simon declared: These are the wicked, who are considered as dead and buried while still living, as it is said: The wicked man travails with pain all his days (Job 15:20). What is the meaning of mitholel (“travails with pain”)? The wicked man, even in his lifetime, is considered as met (“dead”) and halal (“slain”) even while alive.
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Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Exod. 18:1:) NOW JETHRO <PRIEST OF MIDIAN, MOSES' FATHER-IN-LAW>, HEARD <ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE FOR MOSES>…. This text is related (to Eccl. 8:10): AND THEN I SAW THE WICKED BURIED, AND THEY CAME BACK. Are there wicked buried who [come back] and go about?1Tanh., Exod. 5:1. <It is even> as Solomon said (ibid.): BURIED, AND THEY CAME BACK. However, R. Simon has said: These are wicked, in that they are dead and buried during their lifetimes.2Eccl. R. 8:10:1; see Ber. 18b; Gen. R. 39:7. Thus it is stated (in Job 15:20): A WICKED PERSON WRITHES IN TORMENT ALL HIS DAYS. What is the meaning of WRITHE IN TORMENT (mitholel)? That he is dead (met) and writhing (holel).
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Midrash Tanchuma Buber
Another interpretation (of Eccl. 8:10): <BUT THEY ARE FORGOTTEN (yishtakkehu) >. They take pride (yishtabbehu) in that they take pride (mishtabbehim) in their good deeds.4See Git. 56b. (Ibid., cont.:) THIS ALSO IS VANITY. Is this not vanity when the peoples of the world see them, <when they see> how they come, convert to Judaism, and enter under the wings of the Divine Presence, while they < themselves > do not convert to Judaism? THIS ALSO IS VANITY. Who was this person who came and converted to Judaism as a true proselyte? This was Jethro, as stated (in Exod. 18:1): NOW JETHRO <PRIEST OF MIDIAN, MOSES' FATHER-IN-LAW>, HEARD5In Hebrew this verb also tends to imply heeding and obeying. <ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE FOR MOSES>….
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